Warning Signs Of High Sodium IntakeAccording to the American Heart Association, about 75 percent of the sodium we consume comes not from the salt shaker, but rather in processed and restaurant food (1).

Unfortunately, the tendency to over-salt these foods is having a negative impact on our health: “NIH-funded study that found that lowering salt intake by only 3 grams (about half a teaspoon) could prevent as many as 92,000 deaths nationwide each year. There would be fewer than 120,000 new cases of heart disease. Strokes would be cut by 66,000; heart attacks by 100,000.” via MedlinePlus

Pay close attention to the following signs. These will let you know when it’s time to cut back on the salt.

This Is How Your Body Tries To Warn You 1. Thirst

Excess sodium makes you thirsty because your body wants to keep the same salinity levels at all times. As our salt intake increases, our bodies pull the water out of our cells into the bloodstream in order to re-establish its ideal salt levels.

As a result, cells become dehydrated and communicate with the brain to trigger thirst.

2. Bloating

Bloating happens when you regularly consume too much sodium and your body starts to store fluid to help it flush out excess salt. You can reduce bloating by doing more exercise (to stimulate sweat) and drink more water.

“Drinking more water can help you flush the sodium out of your system and bloating will eventually decrease”, explains Rosanna Lee, a nutrition educator and community health promoter based in Toronto.

3. Edema

Edema is a fluid build up in the body that causes swelling in the face, hand, legs, ankles and feet. Like bloating, it’s caused by the body storing fluid to expel excess sodium. via MedicalNewsToday

4. Salt Cravings

A 2011 Australian study (2) found that the brain responds to sodium similar to how it does for substances such as heroin, cocaine, and nicotine. Sodium is a double-edge sword: salt is essential for your nervous system but can quickly become an addiction.

If you find that you often crave salt, you may already be consuming too much in you diet.

5. High Blood Pressure

The extra water that your body stores through edema and bloating raises your blood pressure and puts strain on your kidneys, arteries, heart and brain.

To cope with the extra strain, the tiny muscles in the artery walls become stronger and thicker (3). Yet this only makes the space inside the arteries smaller and raises your blood pressure even higher. Over time, this can leave your more vulnerable to stoke and heart failure.